Back in 2009 (a year after property-bee started), the landlord decided to sell some of their properties (wasn't making much for the amount of effort involved), and we agreed a private sale (below 2004 prices for those from GHPC ). Unfortunately it fell through the day before exchange, due to a cock up with the bank not letting me withdraw money as my passport was 6 weeks out of date (and the only other proof of id acceptable was a warrant card, or an OAP bus pass... WTF!)

Continued to rent the same place, and save... looked around occasionally with PB, but couldn't find anything I liked at a sensible price.

Then begining of 2011, landlord decides they are going to sell.... initially I say I'm not interested (memories of 2009), but eventually I think yes, I'll place an offer... a lowish one, cause either its not going to sell (and I continue renting), its sold to someone else (in which case, I'd either be moving out or tenant to a new landlord), or I get lucky. At this point, I think 4 people were interested in the property, and landlord was hoping for a bidding war. Unfortunately for them, no one could get a mortgage... so it was just me left Arranged an appointment, and got a mortage on the spot (did I mention I'd been saving?).. phone up the landlord and told them I had a mortage in place, and we shook on it.

Having been through the buying process before on the property (and using the same convayencers) it was completetly stress free... and we completed 4th July this year

The irony in all this, was property bee wasn't much use to me.... I knew the property better than anyone else having rented it for years, and seen exactly what the other flats had sold/rented for over the years... so I guess I had a bit of inside knowledge!

Oh and another flat (up 2 flights of stairs, and lower ceilings) was sold a week after.... for £15k more

I've moved house 3 times in the last 5 years, with a couple of rental properties inbetween. PB is fantastic when you move to a new area, in that it shows up those properties that have been on the market for a couple of years, and the ones where the price has dropped a couple of times already.

I can remember the times when you moved to a new area, and went into the EA completely blind and had to accept what they told you. Now I know more about the property market for my potential purchases than the EA!

Any one out there can you help me . New to this property bee, can you find specific like run down houses/flats in a paticular area, and if so what criteria do you put in say right move as no specific box to put this, also does it work with zoopla site